Pakistan Unveils Upgraded Shahpar II UCAV, Claims Outmatch TB2 and CH-4

Pakistan has unveiled a significantly upgraded version of its Shahpar Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV), boasting superior capabilities and cost-effectiveness compared to the popular Turkish Bayraktar TB2 and Chinese CH-4 drones.

The announcement came during a recent demonstration for military officials from 11 allied nations.

Global Industrial & Defence Solutions (GIDS), the Pakistani state-owned defence company responsible for the Shahpar II, showcased the drone's enhanced capabilities in a live-fire exercise.

The UCAV, designated as a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) platform, successfully engaged ground targets with its "Burq" air-to-ground guided missile from an altitude of 14,000 feet.

Improved Endurance and Capabilities​

The Shahpar II represents a substantial upgrade over the earlier Shahpar-I model. GIDS officials tout increased endurance, with the drone capable of 20 hours of flight time for surveillance missions and 14 hours for offensive operations.

During the demonstration, Pakistani officials asserted the Shahpar II's superiority to both the Bayraktar TB2 and the CH-4 – drones currently in service with the Pakistani military. The claim highlights potential competition within Pakistan's existing UCAV arsenal.

Satellite Communications and Cost-Effectiveness​

The Shahpar II incorporates a SATCOM satellite communication system. This provides a critical advantage in long-distance operations and allows the drone to conduct maximum-range missions with real-time communication to ground control stations.

Additionally, GIDS officials emphasize the drone's cost-effectiveness compared to its rivals.

Implications​

The unveiling of the enhanced Shahpar II signals Pakistan's increasing investment in indigenous drone technology.

With claims of superior capability and lower costs compared to existing internationally sourced drones, the Shahpar II has the potential to reshape Pakistan's drone strategy.

Its success could lead to greater reliance on domestically developed systems and increased export potential for Pakistan's defence industry.

 

[ABHIJIT APSINGIKAR]

ukraine has lost of its TB2 drone and the ground stations as well. They have not been operating them for 1.5 years now. If these drone were so useful then ukraine would have ordered more as as when they were being destroyed.

As I said it depends on your willingness to lose these assets. After the loss of TB2 Turkey started pressurizing Ukraine to stop using them in dangerous missions, as continuous shootdowns would not have boded well for Turkey, who was looking to sell them abroad. Now had they been designed internally by Ukrainian company themselves, I doubt Ukraine would have ceased using them.

In fact there have been multiple instances where some drones where successful in breaching the air defenses of Russia and hit critical infrastructure assets deep inside Russia. Yes they have been too sporadic, with most getting knocked down by Russian EW and air defenses, but some have managed to penetrate the shield successfully. The key is to saturate air defenses, with enough drones that can then overwhelm the air defense capacity to defend the target.

Thus it all comes down to cost-benefit tradeoff, is the cost of losing several drones worth the destruction of specified target? If yes then continue to use drones, else losing a million dollar MALE UAV for the destruction of a small heavily defended, but isolated trench line is of little consequence and makes no sense.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

Thus it all comes down to cost-benefit tradeoff, is the cost of losing several drones worth the destruction of specified target? If yes then continue to use drones, else losing a million dollar MALE UAV for the destruction of a small heavily defended, but isolated trench line is of little consequence and makes no sense.

Those drones that you mentioned that struck deep inside russia are not UCAVs. They are 1 way suicide drones. They are basically cheaper and worse versions of cruise missiles.

I dont think your argument of ukraine not using tb2 because of pressure from turkey is true. If ukraine felt that tb2 was worth using (cost to benefit was good) then they would have bought them and used them. Ukraine didnt have a shortage of money. They had created a crowdfunded fund to buy these drones. Turkey was so happy they had even gifted a few tb2 to them lol. Sort of like a buy 10 get 1 free kind of deal. You can read about it

 

[CCPSmasher]

Nuclear weapons! That's why China can't launch a major attack at all.

Nuclear is only efective against those who don't have one. But against those who has it's still a conventional and non conevntional duelings.

 

[CCPSmasher]

at this rate how will indians smash CCP??

By sending internet senas and of course, our Bison

 

[ramdas]

Yeah it’s even better than the MQ9 predator.